Author's note: This chapter is a little heavy, but not too much. Thank you for reading, favoriting, following, and reviewing. Please keep all the love coming! lol
Happy reading!
Chapter Ten
Adrian walked the floor, just watching Joshua sleep in his arms.
"You can put him down sometimes." Sydney said with a crooked grin.
"I know. But Jill can tell you, Misha rarely slept in his bed the first week."
She chuckled and propped her head on her hand. "Well, between you and Eddie I bet he spent his first couple months not sleeping in his bed."
He laughed softly. "Jill told me Eddie still holds him while he sleeps sometimes." He kissed Josh's face. "Such a beautiful boy."
"Yes. Can't deny you make beautiful babies, Adrian."
He gently placed the baby in the bassinet in the corner. "I had a couple really beautiful women to help." He stretched out on the mattress beside her. "How do you feel?"
"I feel like the way I'm supposed to feel is in pain." She admitted.
"Do I need to send for the doctor?" He asked, his face twisting in concern.
She shook her head. "It's not bad. Just the pain of recovery. I'll be all right." She pulled him close. "I love you."
"And I love you." He brushed a kiss across her lips before a sharp knock interrupted them and frightened the baby. "This better be important." Adrian grumbled as he pulled on his dressing gown and headed for the door
Sydney scooped the baby up and he calmed quickly in his mother's arms.
The maid stood on the other side of the door. "Guardian Castile has arrived with a message from your wife."
"He's still here?" He pushed past her as she nodded. The guardian stood at the bottom of the stairs, dressed in the traditional black of his position. "What is it? Is Misha okay?"
"Misha's fine. Jill just received a message from the queen. She said she requests your presence at Court to present Misha. She said she can't give you the year you demanded because many members of the council doubt his existence."
Adrian clenched his jaw. "I can't leave Sydney and Josh so soon."
His friend nodded. "Perhaps it's something we should all discuss. If necessary, I can stay with them."
"You're Jill's main guardian. I don't trust the others' loyalty as much." He rubbed his eyes. "Go tell Jill I'm on my way up there and we can talk about it." He turned and walked back up the stairs.
"What is it?" Sydney asked when he walked back into the room. She rocked Joshua by the window.
Adrian started dressing. "Lissa is demanding we bring Misha to Court. Apparently some of her opponents don't believe any of us are telling the truth about his birth. But I don't want to leave you."
She smoothed a finger down their baby's cheek. "You'll do what you have to."
He sat down on the window seat. "Jill and I will figure it out. And Eddie. Tell me what you think?"
"I think you should go. Josh and I will be fine, just leave us a guardian. Maybe Shane, I like her."
"Eddie offered. But I told him I didn't think any of the others were as loyal to Jill as him. You have no political necessity to them. I don't know." He rubbed his face. "I'll let you know what we decide. Just get some sleep."
She nodded. She rested a hand on his knee. "I'm serious, Adrian, don't make this decision about me. Jill, Misha, you. It's political, dear. Just be careful when traveling."
"We haven't even decided—"
"If you don't go, you could be in trouble, right? Or they'll all come here. We can be a little more open when there's no one from Court looking down their noses at us here."
He nodded and brushed a kiss across her lips. He pressed a kiss to Joshua's forehead. "I'll let you know what's going on." He kissed her again and then left.
Adrian walked into the sitting room and Misha looked up at his entrance. He smiled and quickly crawled across the room. He sat and held up his arms.
"Hello, my sweet boy." He lifted his older son into his arms and kissed his face. "Did you sleep well today?"
He rested his head on Adrian's chest with a contented sigh.
"I missed you, too." He sat down on the sofa and looked up at his pacing wife. "Jill?"
"You know Sydney's right. We have to go. If any of them come here, our odd little family won't last. They'll demand Josh be put in one of the dhampir children's homes, I'm sure. And they'll train him whether Sydney wants it or not."
"I think you're both blowing it a little out of proportion. But I do agree that if we want to keep our peace, we should take him." He looked down at the baby playing in his lap. "What do you say, Misha? Want to meet the rest of your family?"
"Dada." He said with a grin.
Adrian laughed and pressed a kiss to his dark hair. "Yeah, that's me."
"I've been working with him on that. Mostly he doesn't say anything, but sometimes it slips out." She sat down beside him. "Josh is barely a week old."
He nodded. "I wish we could take them. But neither needs to travel."
"And neither needs to be subjected to the start of the rumors." She looked away. "If we go, how long will we stay?"
"Long enough." He sighed and rested his head against his son's. "Two weeks. It'll kill me, but I think we can manage the minimum."
She nodded. "I want Eddie to stay behind and keep an eye on them. I know what both of you said, but I trust the other guardians with my life. And Misha's. And I know you trust Eddie. I just don't fully trust myself with him there."
"His absence will be obvious. Are you sure?"
"I am. We'll think of some excuse." She pressed a kiss to their son's head. She whispered, "When we get back, Eddie and I will try."
He understood what she wanted. "Good."
"You don't think it's too close?" She asked nervously.
He shook his head. "Not at all. This guy will be almost two by then. Joshua will be almost one." He patted her hand. "Tell Eddie your idea. Send a reply to your sister. We'll leave this time tomorrow." He kissed Misha and then put him on his mother's lap. "I need to get back to Sydney."
"Tell her I'm sorry." She said softly.
"I think you saw that she understands."
"That doesn't mean anything." She stood and wrapped an arm around his waist. "She loves you. She just had your baby. Take it from someone who already went through it, Adrian, she's not in a great place right now. Even with her way of understanding, she's going to miss you and she's going to need you. That's why I want Eddie to stay with her."
The corner of his mouth quirked up. "You're not afraid they'll fall in love?"
She matched his smirk. "It's about as likely as you and me falling in love, I think."
"Aw, come on, I'm desirable."
She laughed and kissed his cheek. "You're just a friend I married. There's nothing more than that for me."
He nodded and kissed their son once more. "Have them get my things together. I'll come back and finalize it all before we leave."
"We can wait a while."
Adrian looked at the boy in her arms. "No. We need to go and get it over with. Show him off." He ruffled his son's hair. "Adorable boy of mine. Everyone is going to love you. I think you can even melt my father's heart." He sighed. "Okay, I'll break the news to my love; you break the news to yours." He gave his son one last kiss and then left. He paused a minute outside and looked out at the sea. He felt his sanity waning like the moon. He closed his eyes and took several deep breaths.
A pair of arms wrapped around him. "You can't do this, Adrian. Stay with us. Stay for Misha and Josh. Stay for Sydney."
He took a shaky breath. "And what about you?"
"I'm only secondary." She squeezed him and stepped back. "Are you okay?"
He looked around once more. "I don't know." He let out another shaky breath. He looked over his shoulder at her. "Go back inside."
Jill nodded. "I'll take care of everything. I don't expect to see you again until right before we leave."
He kissed her cheek. "Thank you."
"Give Joshua an extra kiss for me." She smiled and walked back inside.
Keeping an eye on the water, Adrian made his way down to the small house where his lover lived. He hurried up the stairs and pushed the bedroom door open. Sydney slept facing the door. He quickly undressed, took one last look down at their baby asleep nearby and then stretched out with his lover on the bed.
Sydney's eyes squinted open a moment and then she wrapped her arm around Adrian's waist. "When do you go?" She asked in a hoarse whisper.
"Tomorrow night about this time." He kissed the tip of her nose. "Eddie is staying with you and Josh."
She nodded. "I tried to wait for you."
"You've had a lot happen this week." He paused, his hand slowly roving over her back. "We'll be gone for two weeks. I hope they don't try to make us stay longer."
Her eyes shot open. "And what are Josh and I supposed to do with you away? And Eddie?"
He sighed. "You'll figure it out. Two weeks isn't much."
"It's longer than Josh has been around. So much could happen to him in two weeks."
He gave her a calming kiss. "You'll be fine. There is no one I trust more to help keep an eye on the place and take care of you than him."
Tears welled in her eyes. "I don't know if I can do it, Adrian."
He kissed her again, longer this time. "I know you can. You're strong. I'm going to miss you both so much, but we can do it, love. We'll just take it a day at a time."
She nodded and sniffed.
He wiped at her cheeks. "Go back to sleep, Sydney. I have you."
She slowly drifted to a fitful sleep with his fingers combing through her hair.
Misha cried heavily in Eddie's arms when Adrian walked into the house. Sydney and Joshua trailed closely behind.
"He knows he's leaving you." Sydney said instinctively.
"You won't be gone long." The guardian assured him. "Mommy and Daddy are with you. You aren't going alone." He kissed the boy's face. "Eddie loves you very much, Misha." He passed the boy to his mother's arms and then picked up the last of the bags by the front door. "I'll get these to the carriage." His voice was thick and there was an angry set to his mouth.
Sydney stepped toward Jill. "Josh, say farewell to your brother. He'll be gone for a while."
Misha sniffed and looked at the woman who had just spoken. He reached out for her.
She smoothed a hand over his head. "I can't hold both of you." She turned to Adrian and passed the small bundle into his arms before gathering Misha to her chest. She swayed a little. "You're going to have fun at Court. So many people are going to fawn over you. You're a very important boy, Misha." She kissed him. "I'm going to miss you."
She heard Adrian take a shaky breath and looked over to see him with his face pressed against Josh's. He whispered desperately and kissed the baby's small face. He finally looked up, lost for a moment. "We need to go."
Jill nodded. She pressed a kiss to Josh's forehead and then took her son back. "I'll give you a moment."
Adrian placed a hand on the back of Sydney's head and brought his mouth over hers in a deep kiss. She lifted herself up on her toes and wrapped her arms around his neck as she returned the kiss. Both were reluctant to end it, but finally Sydney stepped back and took their son gently into her arms.
"I'll count the days until your back with us." She said gently. She looked over to see Eddie and Jill whispering desperately to each other.
The guardian nodded and gave his lover one last quick kiss before walking away quickly toward the back of the house. The door to his office slammed shut.
Jill looked after him desperately and then turned to her husband. "We're wasting the night."
Adrian nodded. "Take care of him, Sydney."
"He won't leave my sight." She promised.
He nodded again and then walked out the door, Jill in his wake. She saw the guardians standing sentry around the carriage before the door closed.
Joshua started crying softly as though he realized it would be too long until his father returned for his liking. Sydney gathered him close and kissed his tiny face, whispering that he would be all right and he calmed a little. She walked to the back of the house the way her friend had gone.
"Eddie?" She called as she taped on the door.
"Come in." He answered, his voice heavy.
She opened the door and found him staring out the window. "Hush now, Joshua." She bounced the baby in her arms.
"It was partially my idea to stay behind, but it still hurts." He said softly.
"Yes. I know. I pushed him out the door." She sat in the chair across from his desk. "Want to play cards or something?"
He chuckled and turned. "No, I'm not in the mood." He walked over and looked down at the baby in her arms. "When Misha was that small, I held him every chance I had. He's not even my son and I love him like he is."
"You take care of him as much as Adrian does. I'm sure once Josh is old enough to be here all the time, we'll be even more convoluted."
He laughed and reached out. "May I?"
She smiled and passed the baby over. "He's not used to anyone else yet."
"A week old, right?"
Sydney nodded. "Doesn't he look like Adrian?"
"Quite a lot. But I see you in him a bit." Eddie smiled. "He's adorable."
"Thank you."
He sighed. "You think they'll be okay at Court?"
She thought about it a moment and then nodded. "Yes."
"I get so jealous of them sometimes. I know I shouldn't, but every time I see them touch and every time I remember why Misha exists, I get angry. Because she's not completely mine."
"I know. But Jill loves you. And Misha is such a sweet boy who loves you just as much as he loves Adrian."
"Yeah." He took a deep breath. "I don't blame Misha. I don't even blame Jill or Adrian. They didn't choose this. It was forced upon them."
Sydney smiled and sat forward. "Exactly. So we go on loving them and taking all of them while we can. Before long…"
"They'll have to have another baby together." He finished for her.
"Yes." She sat back and crossed her arms over her chest. "It doesn't mean anything. And Adrian swore to me they were just having two and then they were done."
"But that doesn't mean…" He shook his head. "I should be more rational than this. I know Jill loves me. I know Adrian loves you. This one is proof." He smiled down at the baby in his arms. "And Jill and I should have one of our own soon. She promised me."
Sydney nodded. "Yes. And we raise all of them together, Dhampir, Moroi, human. What an odd family we make when put together. But I wouldn't have it any other way. I know that if anything were to happen to me, you would all love and care for Joshua like the rest of them."
"We would, Sydney. I promise." He handed the baby back to her. "I need to do a patrol of the grounds. Are you here for the time or going home?"
"Josh and I wish to sleep in our own beds."
"Then I'll escort you home before I make the rounds."
Adrian and Jill both took turns comforting their son, but it wouldn't work. He didn't like the carriage and he missed Eddie, Jill was certain of it.
"So Mommy and Daddy aren't good enough?" Adrian asked, tickling his cheek. "We love you. And it won't be too terribly long until we reach our destination. I promise you, my dear boy."
He finally tired himself out with the crying and fell asleep against Adrian's chest an hour into the trip. It would take another four and a half to get to Court. He and Jill spent a majority of it in silent contemplation.
Jill broke it when she pulled a basket from under the seat. "Hungry? I had the cook prepare something for us." She took out a sandwich for each of them. "He can lie on that seat and you can sit beside me if you wish."
She produced his blanket and an extra pillow as he moved away. Together, they tucked their son up so that he wouldn't fall off the bench when he moved. And he moved a lot in his sleep.
Adrian watched him fondly as he ate. "He's starting to look more like a Dragomir."
"A little." She agreed. "He's still got your eyes."
He nodded and slipped a hand into hers. "I'm so sorry this it the way it is."
"Stop it, Adrian." She removed her hand from his. "We wouldn't have been able to do it any other way. And I wouldn't have been able to be with Eddie. At least this way, we have the children the council expects us to have and I get to have a few with Eddie and you a few with Sydney. Of course, you would have been with her regardless. The privilege of being male grants that you can impregnate whomever you wish."
"While women sit by and lose out real love from a man they deserve. It doesn't seem right."
"No. And yet, no one else sees it. It's a horrible double standard."
"And also that women have to be virgins in their wedding beds. Men should already know a thing or two. And where do we learn it? Prostitutes. Women who profit from knowing how to please a man."
"I know you've never had a prostitute." She chided softly, glancing at their sleeping son. "You're a big talker, but I know you."
"Well, they weren't women I paid, but I did only spend a short time with them."
"Until Sydney."
He nodded. "Until her. Then I wouldn't rest until she was mine."
They lapsed into silence once more. In the sound of the wheels creaking and crunching over gravel, the sound of their son snoring softly reached them. Adrian smiled. Jill returned it.
"I'm never sorry for him." Adrian said.
"Nor am I." His wife agreed. "He'll be a good older brother to all of them."
"He will."
Jill slipped her hand into Adrian's once more. "Are you ever sorry you saved me?"
He shook his head. "No. I always liked you, Jill. And even in the moment I had to make the choice… well, it was never really a choice. A world without you would be no world I'd want to experience." He kissed her hand. "I love you, my friend."
She let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. "I love you, too."